Does congenital adrenal hyperplasia affect males?
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is an inherited disorder that results in low levels of cortisol and high levels of male hormones, causing development of male characteristics in females, and early puberty in both boys and girls.
Can adults have adrenal hyperplasia?
You may be unaware you have this form of CAH because your symptoms are more mild. Children, teenagers and adults are all diagnosed with nonclassic CAH.
How is congenital adrenal hyperplasia treated in adults?
Adults take hydrocortisone, prednisone, or dexamethasone, which also replace cortisol. Patients with classic CAH also take another medicine, fludrocortisone, to replace aldosterone. Eating salty foods or taking salt pills may also help salt-wasters retain salt.
Can you grow out of CAH?
You can’t outgrow CAH. People with classical CAH will require treatment for the rest of their lives. Nonclassical CAH patients could be symptomatic or non-symptomatic. Symptomatic children should start medication therapy at the first signs of precocoious puberty or bone age acceleration.
Do carriers of CAH have symptoms?
People with a mutation in only one of the CAH-related genes do not have symptoms of CAH. But they’re called CAH carriers because they can pass the CAH-causing gene to their children.
How do I know if I’m born intersex?
If a person’s genitals look different from what doctors and nurses expect when they’re born, someone might be identified as intersex from birth. Other times, someone might not know they’re intersex until later in life, like when they go through puberty.
What is the pathophysiology of adrenogenital syndrome?
The cause of adrenogenital syndrome may be an androgen-secreting tumor of the adrenal glands or adrenal hyperplasia. Sometimes a tumor secretes an excess of androgens and cortisol, which leads to the development of Cushing’s syndrome with suppression of ACTH secretion and atrophy of the contralateral adrenal gland.
What is congenital adrenal hyperplasia?
Adrenal glands. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a group of inherited genetic disorders that affect the adrenal glands, a pair of walnut-sized organs above your kidneys. A person with CAH lacks one of the enzymes the adrenal glands use to produce hormones that help regulate metabolism, the immune system, blood pressure…
What is the prognosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)?
In people who have CAH, a genetic problem results in a lack of one of the enzymes needed to make these hormones. Although there is no cure, with proper treatment, most people who have congenital adrenal hyperplasia can lead normal lives. There are two major types of congenital adrenal hyperplasia:
What is the prognosis of adrenogenital syndrome?
Adrenogenital syndrome may also be caused by androgen secreting adrenal cortex neoplasms. Severely affected infants will die if the disorder is not treated. Other patients may present with milder disease later in life. With early diagnosis and proper management patients can lead a normal life in terms of sexual development and fertility.